---
title: "How do I upload alternate previews?"
date: "2025-01-09T16:52:05+00:00"
summary:
image:
type: "page"
url: "/acquia-dam/how-do-i-upload-alternate-previews"
id: "59ee34a4-a5ab-4ffa-b801-bc30536452e2"
---

If you have the Edit Assets' Metadata, Type, and Preview [permission](/acquia-dam/what-does-each-permission-mean "What does each permission mean?"), you can upload alternate previews of assets that do not have previews. Uploading alternate previews allows others to know what assets look like and determine whether or not to [download](/acquia-dam/how-do-i-download-assets "How do I download assets?") or [share](/acquia-dam/how-do-i-share-assets "How do I share assets?") them. Upload any file format as an alternate preview, although for something like compressed archives, we recommend that you upload images. Videos can be used as alternate previews, but processing may take some time before the preview displays. We do not recommend using PDFs as Alternate Previews as they can produce undesired results.

Upload alternate previews
-------------------------

You can upload alternate previews in Asset Digest or on the Asset Details page.

**In Asset Digest:**

1.  Select the More (3-dot) menu located following the asset preview frame. 
    
    ![Acquia-dam_asset-info](https://acquia.widen.net/content/7a12a700-2af4-4fc0-ae92-60ce5bb88d17/web/c9de9_asset-info.png?w=720&itok=tsGxweZu)
    
2.  Select Upload alternate preview.
3.  Select the file you want to upload from the modal.

**On the Asset Details page:**

Select Upload Alternate Preview.

![Acquia-dam_bliss-enviornment](https://acquia.widen.net/content/a2684a07-aa06-4ed6-8155-f247cff10e99/web/a1ecc_bliss-enviornment.png?h=480&itok=z8oH_nYs)

The system uploads files for previews that it does not create. After you upload an alternate preview, an "Alt Preview" badge opens next to the version thumbnail in the "Asset info" panel.

Preview interaction behavior
----------------------------

When an alternate preview (JPG or PNG) is uploaded, the way users interact with the asset depends on the original file type.

Original Asset Type

Visual Display

Quick View / Thumbnail Click

Expand Preview Click

Download Click

Documents (PDF, DOCX, PPTX) 

Displays the uploaded JPG/PNG.

Opens the underlying document (PDF or DOCX)

Enlarges the uploaded JPG/PNG preview image.

Standard Download

Standard Video  
(MP4, MOV) 

Displays the uploaded JPG/PNG10.

Opens/plays the underlying video file.

Enlarges the uploaded JPG/PNG preview image.

Standard Download

Data & Archives  
(CSV, XLSX, ZIP) 

Displays the uploaded   
JPG/PNG

Opens the JPG/PNG preview image.

Opens the JPG/PNG preview image.

Downloads the underlying CSV, XLSX, or ZIP file.

Specific Media  
(AVI, WAV)

Displays the uploaded JPG/PNG with a "Play" icon overlay.

Plays the underlying media file.

N/A

Downloads the underlying AVI or WAV file.

Remove alternate previews
-------------------------

You can remove alternate previews after you upload them.

**In Asset Digest:**

1.  Select the More (3-dot) menu located following the asset preview frame.
2.  Select **Remove Alternate Preview**.

**On the Asset Details page:**

Select **Remove Alternate Preview**.

![Select Remove Alternate Preview to remove a preview.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/4dfbf8b1-d8f9-46e4-a733-5291d4525cad/web/ka0Pb0000006uSX00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005Lw2E.png)